There is a certain joy in watching animated shorts, particularly classic ones. They speak of days gone by and, when done right, reflect and recall a world they may never have existed buy for which we certainly long. Perhaps no company knows this better than Disney, which now has six volumes in its new Disney Animation Collection. The first three DVDs were released this past April, and the second wave of three just last week.
Each volume in the collection contains approximately (though it does vary) a half-dozen different shorts and runs for — again, approximately — an hour (they are as short as just over 50 minutes and as long as just under 80). Consequently, the title of each volume indicates merely the lead short and should not be considered the only title included. Wisely however, the volumes are loosely themed, so Disney Animation Collection Volume 3: The Prince and the Pauper contains not just that tale, but also "The Pied Piper," "Old King Cole," "Ye Olden Days," and "A Knight for a Day." They're not a perfect match to be sure, but there is a logic to them having been placed together.
The six volumes currently available, in order, are: Mickey and the Beanstalk, Three Little Pigs, The Prince and the Pauper, The Tortoise and the Hare, Wind in the Willows, and The Reluctant Dragon. Together, all six provide an amazing look into a world of animation gone by, and in the case of Wind in the Willows rides at DisneyWorld gone by (Mr. Toad's Wild Ride still exists at Disneyland, but not DisneyWorld). The tales are not always wholly child accessible, as is the case with "The Goddess of Spring" in volume four, but that doesn't mean that adults won't enjoy it, in fact, it was certainly one of my favorites across all six of the volumes.
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